People with lived experience of homelessness and community advocates spoke at the Jan. 7 Houston City Council meeting, urging faster access to shelters, better weather preparedness and expanded reemployment supports.

Don Howard told the council he had been homeless after a long career and described sleeping in cars and shelters; he said he has a plan to help reemploy people and offered to work with the city. "I'm a homeless man," Howard said, adding he had slept in his car and in shelters and wanted to return to work. Reyes Torres, who identified himself as homeless and living on the street, asked council: "What community programs will we work and partner with to change Houston's homeless crisis, specifically with homeless people with mental disabilities like me?"

Council members responded with offers to follow up. Councilmember Kamen directed staff to connect with individuals seeking services; Councilmember Ramirez invited people to the Quality of Life Committee's Jan. 23 meeting at 10 a.m., where the city's new homelessness plan is scheduled for discussion. Councilmember Pollard and others offered to provide job-opportunity referrals and to coordinate with nonprofit partners. Staff members in the meeting room were identified and asked to help with follow-up referrals.

Speakers also sought better preparedness at multi-service centers. Fred Woods, president of the Northwood Manor Civic Club, asked for timelines and prioritization for permanent generators at centers so facilities remain available during weather events; he praised recent council funding for a generator at the Kasner Gardens Multi-Service Center and asked when similar generators would be installed at other centers.

Council members and staff acknowledged gaps. Officials said some warming centers and shelter options were activated during the recent freeze but that the city's response needed improvement and clearer communication. Multiple council members asked staff to make direct connections with the people who spoke and to provide information on services, caseworkers and job-training programs.

No formal legislative action was taken on Jan. 7; councilmembers directed staff to follow up with speakers and signaled that the Quality of Life Committee would take up the homelessness plan later in January.